Houbrechts, Stephanie Marie Irma

Stephanie Marie Irma Houbrechts (nee Van Eylen) of Calgary, passed away at the Peter Lougheed Centre on Saturday, March 20, 2004 after a brief illness at the age of 86 years.

Irma was born on October 8, 1917 in Ryckel, Belgium. She immigrated to Canada in 1956 with her husband August and three children. They were joined shortly after by their eldest son. One more child would be born in Canada. Irma and August initially lived in Eastern Canada and gradually moved west until they arrived in Calgary. Together they established a home here and prospered. In 1979 they retired to Summerland, BC. Irma returned to Calgary in 1996 in order to be closer to her family after the death of August.

Irma, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother is survived by her children, Frank (Heather), Jenny (Albert) Hulzebus, Robert, Marie Kelly, and Eddy (Maureen); grandchildren, Michael and Stephen (Deanna) Rigoni, Kevin (Karen), David (Denise), Philip and Sonia Houbrechts, and Nyree (William) McLean, Genevieve and Cameron Kelly, Benjamin and Amanda Biden, great-grandchildren, Angelina and Chaz Rigoni, Paige and Morgan Rigoni. Also survived by her brother Maurice (Annette) Van Eylen in Belgium, and by many other Belgian relatives and Roger Rigoni of Calgary. Irma was predeceased by her husband, August, in 1990 after fifty-four years of marriage.

Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Eastside Memorial Chapel (5388 Memorial Drive N.E.) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 2:30 P.M. with the Rev. Long Vu of St. Mark’s Catholic Church officiating. Graveside Services will be held at Canyon View Cemetery in Summerland, BC. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com.

The family wish to offer sincere thanks to her care givers at the Cross Bow Centre and to the doctors and nurses in the Emergency Department at the Peter Lougheed Centre.